Valarie Kaur, a Sikh activist, filmmaker, and author of "See No Stranger," dives into the essence of love in a divided world. She discusses how Revolutionary Love can serve as a guiding light through chaos and despair. Maternal teachings shift discussions on joy, music, and community as vital to resilience. Valarie shares powerful stories of healing from trauma and hints at the transformative pathways of forgiveness. Together with Tara Brach, they paint a hopeful vision for a new world rooted in love and compassion.
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insights INSIGHT
Revolutionary Love Defined
Revolutionary love is about being brave with your love and choosing to care for everyone.
It means recognizing the interconnectedness of all beings, even those we don't yet understand.
question_answer ANECDOTE
World of Wonder
Valarie Kaur's daughter taught her that children are naturally full of wonder and love for others.
Kaur's book, "World of Wonder," encourages families to nurture this innate interconnectedness.
insights INSIGHT
Sage Warrior
Kaur's "Sage Warrior" explores how to maintain love in times of despair, drawing on ancestral wisdom.
It emphasizes cultivating inner peace and joy as a source of courage for action.
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In 'See No Stranger,' Valarie Kaur takes readers through her riveting journey—from growing up as a brown girl in California farmland to becoming a young adult galvanized by the murders of Sikhs after 9/11, a law student fighting injustices, and an activist working with communities recovering from xenophobic attacks. Kaur reclaims love as an active, public, and revolutionary force that creates new possibilities for ourselves, our communities, and our world. The book draws from the wisdom of sages, scientists, and activists to offer a practical guide to changing the world through revolutionary love, which extends to others, opponents, and oneself[1][2][4].
World of Wonder
Valarie Kaur
World of Wonder is a picture book that follows Wonder Baby as they learn to navigate the world with wonder. The book emphasizes that wonder is the root of empathy and love, and it illustrates the three practices of Revolutionary Love—love for others, opponents, and ourselves. It encourages children to wonder about the earth, people suffering injustice, and their own emotions, leading to insights and connections that foster love and courageous action.
Sage Warrior
Wake to Oneness, Practice Pleasure, Choose Courage, Become Victory
Valarie Kaur
In 'Sage Warrior', Valarie Kaur weaves together the immersive story of her Sikh ancestors, focusing on the often-overlooked stories of women who mapped the path of the sage warrior. The book chronicles her personal pilgrimage with her children to Punjab, India, where these stories unfolded. It is an occasionally comic adventure intertwined with sublime moments of connection and insight. Each chapter offers lessons such as practicing pleasure, metabolizing grief, and choosing courage, accompanied by original artwork, music, and meditations. The book aims to guide readers in becoming sensuously alive and morally awake, embodying the sage-warrior archetype that combines love and courage[1][3][4].
In a divided, reactive, and violent world, how do we embrace love and joy? How do we genuinely include our opponents in our hearts? What gives us the courage to bring our whole being into serving and savoring? And what is our vision for a new world?
In this fresh and profoundly relevant conversation, Tara Brach and Valarie Kaur explore the challenges and potential of these turbulent times. Valarie, a Sikh activist, filmmaker, civil rights lawyer, and author, shares insights from her powerful books, including See No Stranger and her recent works, World of Wonder and Sage Warrior. Together, Tara and Valarie reflect on:
How Revolutionary Love can be a guide in times of division and despair.
Valarie’s ancestral teachings on surviving apocalyptic times with courage.
The role of joy, music, and community in building resilience and connection.
Forgiveness, reconciliation, and transforming anger into meaningful action.
Visioning a new world while staying rooted in hope, presence, and love.
Tara Brach 
